Yea sorry about the short chapter, I really only wanted to post that author's note but the stupid site would just take it down or something. Anyway there's some good news here, I believe I'm no longer have writer's block =0) I'm not sure though, lol. If this chapter comes out good then my writer's block is gone. So anyways, instead of me talking none stop and stuff, let's just get this all started. Thanks for stinking with me this far everyone.

Disclaimer- It's a conspiracy! They make us add these stupid disclaimers just because they know it will annoy me. They're doing this just to make me go mad I swear. God nabbit, don't they know that no one on this site owns Final Fantasy 7? They sure are dumb if they think Squaresoft (Or is it now Square-Enix?) Wouldn't write a fricking fanfic about their own game... they'd make it a game instead!

Chapter 57- Deadly Mistake

"Wait a minute... let me get this straight." Daisuke says looking at the group. "You guys have been fighting the person who made the zombies and you're going out to fight him now?" The treasure huntress shakes her head in disbelief, "You guys must have some sort of deathwish or something."

the group is standing at the entrance of Cosmos Canyon. They decided to head for the City of Ancients, where Zack told them Vain is waiting. They were stopped by the treasure huntress, Daisuke, asking where they were going. Cloud explained their plans to her, told her how they wanted to get rid of Vain once and for all.

"No one asked for your opinion." Sephiroth states coldly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Daisuke narrows her eyes, "You can just shut it pretty boy. I don't wanna hear a word out of ya again!"

"How about you come with us? You're a really good fighter." Cloud says. The group looks at him oddly.

Daisuke taps her chin in thought, as if considering the offer. After a moment she shakes her head, "Nah.. I'd rather go and find some rare treasures. I hear there's one somewhere on the Eastern Continent."

"So I guess this is goodbye." Tifa says, giving the woman a small smile.

Daisuke smirks, "Yea well, if ya guys ever come across some sort of treasure, I'm more then likely close by."

Cloud nods giving the woman a half grin, "Well guess we'll run into one each other some day."

"Oh what joy that will be." Sephiroth mutters.

Daisuke shoots a glare at Sephiroth before giving him a smirk, "You better hurry up pretty boy, your woman already left!" Sephiroth blinks in confusion wondering what Daisuke is talking about. He glances around the group and noticed that Rima had already headed off. Sephiroth silently turns around and heads out of Cosmos Canyon. The rest of the group hold back their laughter.

Yuffie grins widely, "It sure was interesting meeting ya! We should join up sometime. I know quite a bit about finding some rare treasures!" Yuffie exclaims, her eyes brightening at the memory of the days she hunted down rare Materia, or rather stole it from others. Of coarse Yuffie's and Daisuke's ideas of rare treasures are different but they're close enough.

"I don't think so Yuffie." Tifa comments as she drags the ninja by the arm.

"Oh come on Tifa! When was the last time I got my hands on some rare Materia." Yuffie whines.

The older woman laughs a bit, "Not long enough." Zack shakes his head grinning a bit before following the two. Reno and Elena walked off not even bothering to say farewell to the treasure huntress since they don't even know who she is. Cloud gives a final farewell before turning around to catch up with his friends.

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Vain smirks as he waits patiently for the group to arrive.. He knows that they're coming, he can feel it. He can hardly wait to finally kill them all. He can just picture how things will happen, he has it all planned out perfectly. They'll arrive at the City of Ancients, when they walk in that's when he'll put his plan into action. This is too good to be true. He can hardly contain his excitement, he's feeling like a little kid in a candy store. Oh how he'll enjoy torturing each and everyone of them. However, he'll have to be careful of those two swordsmen, he's well aware of their new abilities. He'll have to separate AVALANCHE into smaller groups for his plan to work.

"You called for me?" Dregon asks walking towards Vain.

Vain grins, his eyes wide with excitement, "AVALANCHE will be here soon. Be ready for them. We'll get rid of them once and for all!" Vain laughs.

Dregon looks around, boredom clear across his face, "You're on your own." Dregon replies before turning around to walk away.

"What! You dare defy me!?" Vain shouts.

Dregon stops, looks over his shoulder and smirks, "You were never the one in control. Bringing me back was your mistake. If AVALANCHE doesn't kill you, I certainly will." Dregon laughs, "You are a fool Pliskin! I was using you this whole time and you didn't realize it!" Vain narrows his eyes at Dregon, his eyes glaring at him dangerously. Dregon only smirks at him, "You were just a pawn the entire time. You were able to kill me only because I let my guard down." The smirk drops from Dregon's face, "As you can tell, that won't happen again. Now if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to." Dregon walks off.

Vain growls in anger, no one makes a fool out of him. He'll show Dregon his true form when he's down with AVALANCHE. The fool believes he was using him this whole time, he'll just have to get rid of Dregon. Dregon's mind powers will be no match against his true powers. Vain laughs, 'Perhaps I'll honor AVALANCHE for their valiant efforts by showing them what they've been up against this whole time.' Yes, it's the least he can do. Vain chuckles as another thought crosses his mind, 'I wonder what Sephiroth's reaction will be?' That thought alone is enough to make this all worth it. Vain smirks, "I shall have my puppet once more!"

Dregon heads off to meet with Hojo, "I'll show the world the true meaning of power. Once I get the two remaining pieces and that bitch I shall be all powerful! Vain still thinks Le Cas Fo Gollost was what I was after. " Dregon smirks, everything is falling into place, just as he planned it to. Vain betraying him was the only setback but other then that everything has come out perfectly. He'll have the world at his fingertips soon enough.

Unbeknownst to Dregon, someone is watching him from afar. The navy green trench coat flows with the wind as the man stands at his spot on top of the cliff. If he can't get close enough to kill the ninja, perhaps he can kill the root of the problem, but now is not the time to try. He'll wait patiently for an opportunity to present itself on either side of the fight. One shall die, the ninja or this man, either one will work for Malice. He's been around for this long for one purpose and one purpose only, he shall not fail his purpose.

{}

Elena glances over to her right, to her fellow Turk. The redhead has been unusually quiet lately, ever since the ex-SOLDIER, Zack, informed everyone that he knows where Vain is. The two are following a distance behind AVALANCHE as they make their way through the sleeping forest. All day Reno hasn't said more then a few words, not when they traveled through Mt. Nibel or when they crossed the ocean on ship. Something seems to be bugging her partner, perhaps it's because they are going to finally fight the man who killed Rude. This is the moment both has been waiting for, a chance to avenge their fellow Turk and friend.

Still, you'd think Reno would be a bit anxious or something for the upcoming battle. He just keeps his gaze out in front of him, starring at the group ahead of them. Elena's brows lower in question, she can't take anymore of this silence, she has to know what Reno is thinking. She admits it, she's a bit too nosey for her own good, but she's always been like that, even when she first became a Turk. It got her in more trouble then she can count, "Reno.." She calls out his name, trying to get the man's attention.

Reno turns his gaze to the blonde Turk walking at his side, his turquoise shinning with something Elena can't quite figure out, is it suspicion? "What?" He snaps.

Elena winces, obviously he's in one of his moods. Probably due to the fact he hasn't had any alcohol for about three or four days. That's a record so far for the redheaded Turk. "What wrong with you? You've been so quiet lately" Elena asks.

Reno turns his gaze back out in front of him, narrowing his eyes at the group in front of them, "I don't trust him." Reno states.

Elena raises an eyebrow, "Cloud?" Elena asks confused.

"No that other one. Zack. There's something not right here." Reno explains, using his instincts as a Turk.

"What do you mean?"

Reno turns his gaze to Elena and glares at her, "Elena don't be such an idiot! You're a Turk! Use your instincts!" He shouts quietly enough so the group ahead of them can't hear him, "When they asked him how he got this sort of information, what did he say?" Reno questions, wanting Elena to fill in the blank.

Elena blinks in confusion, "Don't you remember? He said he came across the information from one of the towns." Reno looks at her expectantly, his look clearly saying, and? Elena thinks for a moment, trying to figure out what could cause Reno to be so bent out of shape, "And... you don't believe him?" She says slowly, Reno's look remains the same, telling her to continue. "Because... um... information like this just doesn't show up in towns?"

Reno sighs in defeat shaking his head. He should've known she wouldn't understand him. Elena isn't exactly the best Turk around, if you can even call her one. "No Elena... the answer is because my instincts! My instincts are telling me he was holding something back."

"Oh.." Elena says lamely. "Really Reno, how many times have your 'instincts' been correct?"

Reno's eye twitches, "I'll have you know that my instincts are usually right!" Elena gives him a skeptical look, Reno rolls his eyes, "Fine, about twenty percent of the time. But Dammit Elena! I know they're right this time."

Elena just shakes her head, "You're just being paranoid Reno." Elena states. Reno brows lower in anger and glares ahead, she's beginning to piss him off. He's been trying to control his anger around her lately and his little drinking problem. They have been together quite a few times, he admits that he cares about her, not that'll he'll ever admit that to her. But sometimes he wonders what he ever saw in her to begin with, she's just a ditsy blonde airhead that he ends up bickering with about the smallest of things. Reno smirks, she thinks his instincts are wrong, they'll just wait and see who's right. She just better not come crying to him when something goes wrong.

{}

'This is it... Vain should be somewhere near." Cloud thinks to himself as he leads the groups into the City Of Ancients. The group stop at the entrance and scan the area, looking for any signs of Vain.

"Hey what are these?" Yuffie asks walking over to the steel plates on the ground. two separate ones are spread out, each shaped in a circle and about fifteen feet wide.

Cloud's brows lower in question, "I don't know. Maybe they're some sort of doors that lead to an underground passage. They may lead us to Vain." Cloud says walking over to it. He steps on to it and looks down on it. There's a crease in the middle making it look like it cane be opened up. Cloud kneels down and tries to lift an end up, finding it heavy, "Damn this thing weighs a ton!" Sephiroth walks over and kneels down, he nods to Cloud and the two of them try and lift it.

"......." Rima walks over to give them a hand.

"Elena let's open this one." Reno says walking over to the other steel plate.

"I'll help!" Yuffie says running over to them.

Vincent brows lower in thought as he watches Tifa and Yuffie try and help the Turks. 'Something isn't right...' He shakes his head clearing his thoughts before walking over to Cloud's groups. He wedges his claw into the crease. The groups counts to three and tries to pull it up.

"What is this?" Cloud asks breathlessly. "It must be locked from the inside or something." Cloud glances up to Zack who's watching them try to open them, "Hey Zack... give us a hand will ya?"

"Uh.. right!" Zack heads over to them, his right foot lands on the steel plate. Zack screams in pain as he's shocked by some sort of force field around the steel plate. He jumps back in surprise away from the group, a yellow barrier surrounds both groups on the circle plates.

"What the!?" Clouds exclaims as he jumps to his feet. He quickly tries to run through the yellow barrier only to find that he's trapped. "What is this!?" Cloud says. The rest of the group tries to break their way loose.

"Dammit let me out!" Reno shouts, banging his fist on the barrier.

Zack looks back and forth from both groups wondering what happened. Laughter is heard as Vain walks out from hiding. "Vain!" Cloud hisses.

Zack hangs his head as Vain walks over to him and pats him on the back, "You've done well! I knew I could count on you to bring them here?"

"Zack?" Tifa questions in confusion.

"You!" Reno barks, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you. Dammit I'll make you regret this!" Reno pulls out his nightstick and hits the barrier with it, trying to break through it. "Dammit! When I get my hands on you!"

Vain laughs, "Don't waste your energy! You won't be able to break through that barrier." Vain points up, making everyone look at what he's pointing at, "These shields are operated by those." Vain says indicating to the spheres hanging high above each group, "I had Hojo design them. He's not only a genesis when it comes to experimentations, he can create marvelous things as well."

'Hojo!' Rima's fists clench at the mention of the man's name.

"Why would you betray us Zack?" Cloud asks confused, Zack is his best friend, friends don't betray each other.

"I'm sorry..." Zack says lamely.

Vain smirks, "We had a deal, if he brings all of you here, I'd do him a small favor." Vain glances over to Zack, "Come now. It's time I grant your wish." Vain says walking away, Zack gives the group one last look before silently following Vain.

"Wait get back here you bastard! I'm not through talking with you yet!" Reno shouts. Elena tries to calm him down.

{}

"First we'll need to take down that barrier surrounding her." Vain says walking over to a small control panel that's down in the Forgotten Capital.

Zack's eyes remain locked on the barrier that's around the alter. The barrier blinks on and off for a moment before it disappears. Vain glances over to Zack, a smirk slowly playing across his face. His hand reaches behind the panel.

Aerith sits up and looks around. Zack's eyes widen, "Aerith!" Zack calls out raising up to the alter. He jumps to the alter, "Aerith!" He calls out happily as he runs to her, he extends his arms out ready to wrap them around her frame but they pass through her. "Huh?" Zack blinks in confusion before reaching out to touch Aerith, his hand passes through her, making her body flicker, "A Hologram!?" Zack says.

Vain laughs wickedly, "You didn't actually think I'd keep my end of the bargain did you? You can think Hojo for this also!"

Zack's eyes darken as he quickly unsheathes the Buster Sword, "You bastard!" He says running towards him.

Vain smirks and turn the barrier on, making Zack crash into it. "Have fun with your woman!" Vain laughs before heading back up.

Zack collapses onto his hands and knees, he glances at the hologram of Aerith, still looking around from her sitting position. Zack closes his eyes tightly, lowering his forehead to the surface of the alter, "What have I done?"

Heeheehee, bet some of you thought I'd bring her back eh? I said it a long time ago remember? I am NOT going to bring Aerith back, she annoys me too much. Heh heh heh, don't ya just hate me now? Nods Well my writer's block is gone. I'm going to start on the next chapter right away. I don't know how many chapters are left to this fic, we'll find out soon enough. But poor Zack... being blinded by his love for Aerith, making him stupid enough to fall for Vain's traps. How will the group get out of this one? Or will they? Heeheehee. Let the sweet torture begin!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!! Review y'all even if this chapter seemed a bit... lame. lol I promise the next one will be longer and much better, sorry about this one but my creativity seemed to have disappeared for a bit as ya can tell. TTNC!